davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-05-19

dandy acquitted himself gracefully.
going round and round with playful
antics. Want piece of cake?" said
she; and the dog came mp as graclous
AS .he most accomplished tease. wrfg-
Cling all over with delight
when do you want it?''
"Wite off now; wife off nop. wife of
Now barked' the dog, shaking his lit
tie head with will.
Cant You wait little?"
No, no, NO. No. no. NO." said he As
though wholly out of patience. and she
tossed him the cake.
Can you play for the getleman. my
boy?'
Looking up at me a moment as
though deciding whether he wanted to
please me or not, he hoped upon the
stool. stood on his hind feet, and rat
tied the keys with his fore feet, striking
them here and there. back and forth
like any pianist. The noise given
forth at his touch delighted him as
much rs ever it did child. and though,
there was of course no tune, yet the
air with which he would skip over the
keys was highly entertaining.
land now, Max. let us have a
sing" said Miss Chamberlain as she
seated herself at the piano and began
to play.
He appeared to be in no mood for it
and ran of. but she said nothing,
played few strains and then she and
her mother began to sing. Max at
once scampered. up into chair beside
his mistress; standing with his fore feet
upon the back of the chair. he stretched
his neck. and tossed his head and went
through all the facial contortions of a
''star' astist, while in a tone midway
between a squeal and Il whistle he sang
all through, in apparent tune. evident
ly enjoying both the performance and
the encore in quite human fashion.
A caller present said as he took
leave: Il will bring my dog tonight
and he shall teach you how to sneeze.
Max; and home he went for his dog.
Mrs. Chamberlain quietly took Max up
on the sofa and told him the situation,
and urged HIM to learn how to sneeze,
before the gentleman returned. She
sneezed for him. He tried it, but in
vain. For long time she gave him
the example and he struggled vigor-
ously to get the knack of it. When he
did hit upon it, he was as delighted as
his mistress, and kept at his practice
on his own account.
When the gentleman returned with
mis- ''sneezing dog" he was quite taken
back to have Max greet him with a
tirs--class sneeze. Max is proud of this
requirement to this day.-AibeT E.
IWnShip, in Vide AUake.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-05-19
THE LATEST FAD.
ow Chr.sten:nSs Are Now Conducted In
New York Society Circles.


New York Society Circles.
Fashionable babies are christened at
home nowadays. Monday afternoon
AZ four o clock sharp number of aides
and gentlemen of the ton were gathered
in All uptown drawinc-room. In the
center of the salon stood small table
decorated with smiIax and white rose
buds and bearing repOusse silver bowl.
The clergyman and the god-parents
took their places; the door opened and
a bustling parsonage in stiff blach silk
appeared. bearing bundle of white
lace and very large white satin
sash, somewhere in the folis Of
which was hidden the extremely
small, red specimen who was
about to renounce the romps and van-
tiles of this wicked world. After the
ceremony the little Christian disap-
peared. and the doors were thrown
open for the slight Iefreshmen: de-
manded ut that hour. The table was
decorated with large oval mirror.
around which was masscd bank of
moss and smilaX. with center of
Cornclia Cook rosebuds at every plate
was placed little white basket lined
with silk and bound with soft white
ribbon, the ends painted in gold let
tiers, with the date and the name of the
small hostess. which, luckily for her,
was that sweetest of all vowel combina-
tons, "Alice." These baskets were
filled with French nignonet and ''tea''
buds. Caudle was first served in small
pink cups. on which was painted
medallion of baby's head. But the
feature of the entertainment was
babies in ice cream, frozen stiff
md fast, like SO many little dolls. and
:esiins OH nests of spun glass. No
body had the heart to cat them or we
should be able to satisfy the curiosity
Weakened by Dean Swift, who. you will
remember, always felt he would like to
have had taste of n tender young in
FAINT. and gave great offense to the re-
viewers by recommending them as an
article of dict When we were leaving.
each guest was presented with small
box Gi,eI with white almonds (Which
60 with christenings as naturally rs do
caLdlc and raisins) and a big artificial
rose-white to the ladies and red 10 the
gentlemen. Hanging from the stalk
were three small foreign gold coin.
and in the centre Of each rose little
silver baby was hidden. with "Alice"
engraved Oh its back. The godpar-
ents got blue roses and gold image
IN r Letter.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-05-19
Somewhat Primitive Costumes.

We came opposite Selma Kroo about
ten a. M. The cannon was fired, the
whistle blown, and soon two canoes
were seen coming out in the bay past
the rocks. The ship halted until several
canoes and one larger boat came along
side and took the colored passengers
and baggage to be landed. Several
came on board, some wearing hats, some
shirts, some loin cloths. and many were
entirely nude. One had ivory bracelets,
necklace and tattoo marks, but was
naked. We stopped often along this
shore to take on negroes who were going
to Loanda and other points. some to
work on railroads. Their wardrobes
were very scanty. One man had hat
on, pipe in his mouth. and string
around his waist. One quite intelligent
looking negro had on z snuff-colored
hat, a blue flannel coat, a loin cloth, q
string around his waist on which silver
coins and two teeth (perhaps lion's)
and red scarf to which was fastened
sheath of rawhide, containing long
sword-like knife with heavy blade,
twenty inches or more in length. Many
have well-formed heads, are intelligent
looking. and seem active and strong
african Cor. Bangor Mich. Bsfsetor.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-05-19
A Joke on the Police.

Once or twice q week. and rather
early in the morning. platoon of po-
lice march from drill. or inspection. or
other, at the City Hall. to Harrison
Street station. in Chicago. There are
usually as many as fifty or sixty Of
them. big fellows in uniform. and all
with hard-look;ng locusts in their belts.
One recent morning. as the big platoo
was walking down La Sale street,
very small newsboy. with quick eye
to the opportunity presented for a
tableau. sandwiched himself in between
the parallel columns of stalwart Off
GERS. hung his head dejectedly. as if
deeply mortified at the disgrace of his
arrest. and marched along toward the
station-house. "Well, neverr' ex-
claimed citizen, at the corner of La
Sale and Adams. Look at all those
policemen taking that one little boy 20
the lookup. It's a wonder they haven't
got handouts on him, too" After the
small boy had enjoyed the ludierous
situation, and given others a chance TO
enjoy it, to his hearts content he
Strengthened up. put broad grin upon
his face. and darted up an alley just in
time to elude the heavy hand of the
nearest officer, who. at least had APP
preciated the significance of tho iittla
pantomime
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-05-19
LAZY TOM.
Vide Ardke.

Ills Mother Cured Him by Taking Him
Mt His Word and Letting ''SOmebOdy
Else DO 1t"
Tom did not like to work. What to
do with him was a hard question for
his father and mother to solve.
He was generally known as 'Lazy
Tom," and surely the name was just
one. for Tor would not work if he
could possibly help it.
One day his father asked him to hoe
some corn, as it was necessary for him
to go to the village.
As soon as Tom saw his father was
fully out of sight. he dropped his hoe
and speedily sought refuge from the
hot sun in the shade of neighboring
tree. and soon feel asleep. The hours
passed quickly. and Tom did not
wake. His mother went to call him to
dinner. hoping to see him busy at work
Toni" she called. but then she
spied him under the tree.
''Thomas!"
"Wh-at?"
Come, Tom, I want you to come
and
20 dear. can't somebody else do it??"
he whined. half awake.
80 yes" his mother replied. as she
turned and hurried back to the house.
leaving Tom very much amazed. think
ING his mother in an extremely good
humor to-day. But presently he was
fast asleep aga in.
The dinner table was cleared away,
and the afternoon was passing. when
Tom awoke from his dream Tin which
he hal lived in land where no one
had TO work) to find he was on this
same world. very hungry.
He quickly made his way to the
house. but found no dinner waiting for
him. On making inquiry he learned
that some one else had eaten it for
him, as his mother said: ''YOu asked if
somebody else could not do it for you. -
At supper he was not called. and as
he came in his father told him: ''You
are not needed tonight, rs we have
decided to do your work for YOU"
Next morning he was ready for
breakfast, with his work done before
any one else; and never again was he
heard to say: Cant somebody else do
it?'' This was the way Tom was cured.
Our Youth.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-05-19
VERY HUMAN.

Bright "Max." Who Understood His Mis-
tresS and Shamed the Man with the
''Sneezing Dog"
The gap between brute intelligence
and human reason does often seem n
very narrow one. l remember being
greatly entertertained by the display of
''mind'' in little dog belonging to Miss
Chamberlain. 1.-THE whistling soloist."
During call. the little fellow came in.
Presently, Didn't you hear some one
drive up. EIla?" said Mrs. Chamber
lain to her daughter, in an ordinary
tone.
Max. the little Skye terrier, was
lying on the mat. He at once jumped
up from his apparent sleep. ran to the
window, stood on his hind feet, and
looked out, and seeing no one turned
to the amused company and shook his
head sideways. expressing an emphatic
NO"
shut the door, Max" said his mis-
trcss. The little fellow looked up, cast
his eye about the room for an open
door. and seeing the front hall door
open, pushed away u chair. frisked in
behind, rose on his hind feet, put his
fore-paws against it and pushed it to,
after which he ran to his mistress for
approval.
You didn't shut it.
Looking around and seeing it swing
ing open he ran back and shut it as be-
fore. and came back to his mistress.
"Why. Max. it isn't shut nowr'
Seeing it open just crack he went
back with an evident spirit of disgust,
and standing on his hind feet, reached
his fOre-feet almost to the knob and
stood there striking the door spitefully
until he heard the latch click. when he
jumped down and frisked his little tail
and fairly danced all over with de-
light
Can you waltz for me. MAXI said
enc Of the ladies, upon which the little
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-05-19
HOW TO TREAT BONES.

A Perfect Fertilizer Which Can he Pro-
cured at . Reasonable Price.
Many farmers can procure bones at
a very moderate price from local butch
ers. These bones will make perfect
and complete fertilizer if treated in this.
way. If unleached wood ashes can bas
procured, quantity of these are placed
in pit in the ground two or three feet.
deep in alternate layers with the bones.
so placed that the bones are exposed
thoroughly to the action of the ashes.
Among the ashes is mixed evenly an
equal quantity of quicklime. This is
important. for the action of the lime is
to take the carbonic acid from the,
ashes and leave the potash in them i'm
caustic condition. In this state the
potash quickly reduces the bones to q.
soft and friable condition SO that in
two months the whole mass may bes
crumbled to a fine powder. The re-
sulting mass contains all the phos--
plate of lime of the bones in q useful
condition, retains the nitrogen of the,
gelatire of the bones and of the.
meat upon them, and has tho
potash and lime and phosphorus
acid of the ashes and the lime besides.
thus furnishing every useful plant food
in a very convenient form. II no wood
ashes can be procured the common
carbonate of potash, the potashes OK
commerce can be procured. or the
of potash and the German
potash salts may be used if the lime is
added a. above mentioned.-N Il
Times.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-05-19
WHERE THE TROUBLE IS.
A Topic OF Domestic Dispute Which, LiSS
All Others, Has Two Sides.

A Topic OF Domestic Dispute Which, Like
All Others, Has Two Sides.
"Oh, how little we foolish women
know what we are booming ourselves
to when we unite ourselves in we'd
lock-" sighed Mrs. Nagger the other
day, when her husband suggested that
a little more economy might not be a
bad thing. Here I've been toiling
and shaving all my life trying to skimp
and save, and here you are always
preaching economy. l could have
married half a dozen rich men, too.
It's my opinion that no man has q
right to get married until he has a
home to which to take WIFE,"
"You think he ought to have a home
first, do you?''
YES. l do. Before he gefs the bird
he ought to have the cage all ready"
"Well," snarled Mr.. N. II do-'t see
it that way
.'Of course you don't. Men never
do. They think it's only woman S
place to work her life away for them.
mo. they don't" he snapped out.
That amt where the trouble is. But
before man goes to blowing himself
on cages and things he'll find out
whether he's got canary bird to put
into it, or darned old poll parrot
that 'ud chatter the life out of him if he
got her board and lodging in the apart
ments of Queen Victoria. Merchant
TrQreler
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-05-19
FOR OUR YOUNG READERS
"PR,pE GOES BEFORE a FALL"

Little Mothers Lecture to Her Dolly.
Dolly. o Dolly my darling! you're much too
naughty to-day.
Come here to my arms this moment, and listen
to what must say,
at all,
Cut must impress on your mind that Pride
goes before fall!
There's wee little scowl on your forehead and
toss on the tip OF your nose.
That told me. the moment saw you. you were
thinking too much of your clothes;
After all my carefullest teaching, to think that
your very first ball
Should make you forget in q moment, Pride
goes before q fall.
I've told you over and over, whenever you had
new dress,
That loved you not one bit better and loved
you no. one bit less:
That liked you best for yourself, SO pretty and
sweet and small,
And that Pride was dreadful thing, dear, that
goes before fall.
I used to be just like you, so fond Of sashes and
things,
And when was dressed in my best it seemed
that my feet were wings
And that could fly with delight-but now am
grown so tall,
And know. for my mamma has told me, Pride
goes before fall.
Besides Ihsve felt it myself; for as sure as
sure could be.
The time was most pulled up was time Of
trial for me:
There was always a slap or a snub from nurse
or Kitty or Paul
o indeed know very well Pride goes before o
fall.
So Dolly, Dolly my darling. be sure you heed
what say,
And never look naughty or vain as have found
you looking to-day;
Now let me tie on your hat and we'll go to make
a call.
But never. nerer forget dear, Pride goes before
o fall!
Wide Alrdke.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-05-19

gems from common peODleSs VI AU0
rubies that would not repay the cost Of
rough native cutting to fit them for
market. As gemming is carried on in
the island of Ceylon, where any native
can obtain license for digging upon
Crown lands. no check upon their OPP
erations is'possible, and those who en-
ploy them are no doubt liable to
robbery; but in Burman, by the Gov
eminent lease to the Ruby syndicate,
the work will be conducted i'll sys-
tematic manner under the close SUI
pervision of skilled Europeans. AS in
the operation of Misunderstanding,
which was shown in the South Amer
lean Court at the Colonial Exhibition,
the washing and sorting will be carried
on by means of machinery within an
inclosed structure. protected from pur.
Joining by outsiders in a most effec-
tual manner, whilst all digging will be
confined to one or two selected spots
and interdicted elsewhere.
A good deal is heard of the UNI
healthiness of the Ruby district, q
fact which is explained by the density
of the jungle surrounding the Dig
gings, and by the level nature of the
country, affording such a limited
means of escape for the 4rainfall,
which, at certain seasons, accumulates
on the ground, rendering it impossible
for work to be carried on in the pits,
and causing malaria. which engenders
feverish attacks. These low lands are,
however, in nearly all cases surround
ed, at a reasonable distance, by hills.
on which habitations for Europeans
may be erected above the reach
of malarious influences. Nothing
is yet known as to the nature
of the Burmese miners rights
derived from Theebaw's ministers;
whatsoever they may be, way will
have to be found of recOnciling them
with the concession recently made by
the Indian authorities to the Ruby SYM
dictate, at the head of which is Mr..
Streeter, the diamond merchant of Bond
street. whose son accompanied the
British expedition in Upper Burmah.
1t is probable that compromise may
be effected with the native workers;
but as regards the Burmese and Shan
merchants, in whose hands profitable
traffic in gems has remained from time
immemorial, it may be more difficult to
reconcile their interests with those ofth
European syndicate, who will natur-
ally desire to retain the business in
rubies in their own hands.
In the same localities in Burmah are
found the oriental amethyst, the orien-
tai sapphire, the green, the white and
the yellow sapphire, the star ruby, the
oriental ruby and the opalescent ruby
the three rubies differing in the
shades and ranges of color. Ordinary
rubies are worth, when English cut,
from four to ten pounds carat when
less than half carat in weight. Above
that weight, they vary according to
quality from twenty to one hundred
pounds carat. 1t is believed that the
largest known ruby in existence is one
forming portion of the Russian crown
jewels. said to have come from China.
The deposed King of Burmah is re-
ported to possess a ruby of the size of
Il pigeons egg, the weight and value
of which are unknown. = Chambers
Journal
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-05-19
A PREOICAMENT.

Alas! a sorry lot is mine,
I'm deep in love with one
Whose eyes are bright as stars that SHINE
When sets the beaming sun.
Idream of her at noon and night
lam her worshiper,
And yet, such is my woeful plight.
Idare not tell it her.
I've conned the pages of romance
To see how heroes WOO:
They always seem TO find a chance
And know just what to do.
Alack-a-day! am not versed
In arts OF rhetoric:
In all the parts that I've rehearsed
I'm awkward as stick.
Ny voice is oft inclined to break,
And If, upon my knees,
said: ''rll die for your sweet sake"
fear I'd fail to please.
Had a word with Romeo
Perhaps he might unfold
Some way to guard against her "No,"
And still not mention gold"
The poets sing OF ''love divine
In numbers short and long;
This does not suit case like mine
A fig for every song,
Will some successful lover not
Um sure there are a fewo
Have pity on my mournful lot
And tell me what to do.
: Clinton .ScoLdrd, in Detroit Free Press.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-05-19
HELPFUL MOTHERS.

Remarkable Men Who Owed Maeh Of
Their Greatness to 4 srly Eduea.ion.
1t is a terrible mistake when mothers
do too mech for their children. yet it
is very difficult to draw the line be-
tween that and proper consideration
for their wants and comforts. 1t is 50
Natural to be anticipating for them,
and mingled with the feeling there is.
perhaps. u little selfshness. for the
mother cannot help wishing that If she
should be taken from her little ones,
that they may be able to look back on
the time when she cared for them as
one of unmixed comfort and happiness.
A mother whose heart remains Young
is an incalculable blessing to her chill
dren: she can enter into their games
and be child with them, she is the
playfellow of her girls. and. as they
grow older. is almost like their elder
sister; and if she have sons, there is q
crs5lardderie between them and her
which makes home the most delightful
place in the world. and mother" the
most charming of companions. 1t was
thus with Goethe. the German poet,
his mothers first-born son. who came
to be her plaything and pleasure long
before she was out of her teens. She
was a genial, social. and, withal, clever
woman, and always maintained that
the bond between herself and her boy
owed its strength to the fact that .'my
Wolfgang and l were young together"
A mothers authority ought to be
marked by a sweet reasonableness.
The children. when old enough to com.
prehend more than the bare duty of
implicit obedience, should be con-
WINGED that all her rule. and regula.
tons are based on sound principles,
and have their welfare for their aim
and end. Thus, young girl of fifteen,
invited to form one of large party in
a country house, where every one was
older than herself, adhered to her
mothers rule that she was always to
90 to bed at nine o'clock. No matter
what fun was going on. what tempta-
ton was held out to induce her to
stay ten minutes longer, she was
gently inflexible. and would say. smil-
ing: Mother told me never to stay up
after nine; it wouldn't be good for
me-"
Many remarkable men have had re-
markable mothers. The first Napolean
never forgot his allegiance to his
mother, Lucretia Bonaparte. who has
been called the Cornelia of her day.
She was woman who practiced plain
living and high thinking" and.
though her sons words bore two mean
ings, his tribute to her worth was
heartfelt when he reiterated, with the
deepest conviction, France wants
mothersr'
John Wesley, who was the twelfth of
nineteen children, loved his mother so
dearly that when he was young man
at Oxford, he used to pray that he
might never survive her. And MANY
years afterwards, when word was
brought him. Mt Bristol. that she was
diving. he ordered his horse to be
brought to the door of the chapel where
he was preaching in Broadmead, and
rode on all night. never drawing rein
till he reached Moorfields. Some one
made 4 remark to him about his haste
and anxiety, and he answered: "Ah,
can never have another mother. -
CasseN's Family Magazine.